Improvement in felting-machines



Nrrnn STATES PlireiwrA OFFICE.

CALVIN l. LADD, OFNEV YORK, N. Y., ASSI-GNOR TO yHIMSELF AND JAMES T. SANFORD, OF SAME PLACE. v

IMPROVEMENT IN FELTlNG-MACHINES.

Spoeilcnxon' forming part of Letters Patent No. l {0,7-1, dated December 27, 1870.

'To all ufhom it may concern.-

he it known that l, (LUNDI l. Lann, of the cit y, county, and State of New York, have i11- vonted certain new and useful Improvements in Felting-lllachines, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, makshow the mechanism for operating the felters;

and Fig. 4 is a side elevation, showing the mode of actuatingthe drum and squeezingrollers, this view being talten from the side of the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. -1.

The iii-st part of 'the inventionAJ consists in combining with the two felters a pan or vat located between them and filled withv a suitable solution(preferably a hot one) through which the hat must passas it is being transferred from one fclter tothe other.

The second part ot' my invention relates to the combination, with first felter, of a double steam-box, either- Vwith or without a pair of compressing-mllers, for the purpose of suitably preparing the bat for the action 1of the felici' through which it iS to pass.

'lhe invention further consists in a number of new leainres of construction of the mechanism for operating the machine, 'whereby the nnwment-s of the diierent parts are made to automatically cooperate with each other in such manner as to render it very effective in producing a bat of 'unifor1n.quality, and one which cannot be readily disintegrated.

In the drawings, A A represent the framework upon which the working parts of the machine are mounted.

B B and C C are two felters mounted upon frame A, one at cach end, B and C being. the tables or rubber-beds, and B C being the platens or felting-plates. Beds B C are rigidly secured to the frame-work A, the platertsl B C having a rapid horizontal vibratory motion imparted to them by means of the devices which I will 110W describe.

l) is a main`driving-shaft mounted vin suitable bearings in frame A.

E E are band-wheels on shaft D, one of these wheels being keyed to said shaft, while the other is hung loosely for the purpose of allowchine when desired.

each end of shaft D.

D2 are pitman-rods connecting crank-wheels D with pendent lever-arms F of rock-shaft F. Rock-shaft F is supported in boxes or bearwhich are connected with platen C by means of pitinan-rod o. It will be readily seen that these devices will, when shaft D is driven by a belt, give to platen C a reciprocating moor lengthwise of the machine.

G is a counter-shaft driven by bevel-gear wheel G from ,bevelwheel D3 on shaft D.

Gr2 is a crank-wheel on one end of shaft G. j

H is a short rock-shaft 'mounted in bearings arm,v F (shown in Fig. 4,) and corresponding throw of the platens may be regulated at will. I is a horizontal shaft located just above shaft D.' .Upon this` shaft are secured two screw-threads or worms, 1 I', one near each end, and near its center is a worm-eogged wheel, l2, driven by a screw, D, upon shaft D. This screw is shown in Fig. 2, but cannot be seen in Fig. 3, because it `is hidden by shaft I.

K K are two shafts running transversely of the machine j ust below shaft Lin about the same horizontal plane with main drivingfshaft D and counter-shaft G, as seen in Fig. 2. Each df shafts K is provided with a worm-oogged wheel, K', wich engages with screw I. (See ing the belt to run without. carrying the ma- D (sec Fig. 3) are crank-wheels keyed to'Y ings F, and provided with two, other short crank arms, F2, (shown plainly in Fig. 2,-)

tion, this. reciprocation being longitudinally H on frame A, and provided with a pendent to lever-arms F of rock-shaft F. `Rock-shaft them by movable wrists, in Order that the I.

Fig. 2.) Vheels K are not seen in Fig. 3, ,being hidden by shaft Il. .The ends of shafts K.' project beyond the sides of frame A, and are providedat each vend with cams 1C'. (Showp in Figs. 1 and 4.) l

L Lare cani-rods sliding vertieallyin ways or straps l. Theli i'ting-rods L L are provided npontheir inner sides with short stud-arms, (shown at Fig. 1,) which engage with andare operated by cams K. By preference I provide each ofthe studs Z with a friction-roller. "lhe upper ends of the cani-rods are connected with platens B C', through arms formed upon or attached to said platens, or. in any other convenient or desired manner. There shouldbe a little play either at the point where the cam-rods are joined to the platens or else bey tween thc rods and their supporting-straps or ways, to allow for the vibrationof the platens. By preference I m'ake the upper ends of the lifting-rods forked, and in the forkI lsecure av pin or roller, upon which the arm from the` platen may rest,' this pin or roller ybeing ad` instable vertically in the fork, s o that through a tank or vat, MfFig. 2, of th'e same length asthe felters and occupying the space which in` tcrvenes between them. This tank is intended.E to contain either het water or one of the soln'# tions in'use among Amanufacturers of felted*v goods.4

AN is a drum, of the. same length as the in side diameter of vat M. The axle of this druml projects beyond the side of the yframe A, and has keyed upon one end of it the spur-wheel O 'and ratchetavheel O', Fig. 4.

OIl is an arm pivoted upon the axle vof drum N, and carrying a pawl, o, which engages with ratchet-wheel O. Arm 02 isoperated hylc-A ver P, with which it ist connected by link p,

first filter, substantially in thcposition shown' in the drawings.' 'It is made in two parts sef cured together 1n any suitable manner, prefi-l erably by dowels, as shown at q, Fig. 2. Each Aof these parts is vprovided with a perforated or reticulatcd diaphragm, through. which thel steam, which is admitted by pipes g', is per initted to come into contact with the batas is passing throughfthe box.

R R are rollers placed lengthwise of box Q', for the purpose of compressing the bat to a proper thickness bcforeit is submitted to the action of the felter C C. 4 l

S is a'guide-roller placed in the rear of feltL ing-table CC', for the purpose of receiving the bat and conducting it to the vat M, vithout use two or more, even three, smaller squeezerollers, substantially under the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and I may adopt the system of gearing shown in that ligure for' lriving them, or any other which lmay be rendered necessary.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a fe .dingtablo for thebat before it is felt'ed, and a receivingtable at the other end of the machine, and have shown a lever operated by one of the liftingrods for actuatingthe roller by which the felt and felti'ng-'shects are drawn or ca.rried,1tbe1ng of course understood that the machine is provided with an endless felting sheet or cloth,

as is used in this class of machines.

U U, Fig. l, are `stca1n-pipes, by means of which steam is conveyed to thel steam-box Q Q', to the platcns or rubber-beds, or both, and to the vat, through which Vit may be carried in a coil or worin, when preferred.

In operating my machine a rapid motion is communicated to main driving shaft I),

through pulley E, by a belt driven from any convenient power'. This gives a corresponding-'rapidl vibration to the felters. The bat, be ing first passed through steam-box Q Q, where it is subjected to 4the action of steam of Asurh temperature as the kind and condition of thel bat may require, is n'ow placed between rubber-bed C 'and platen C. Here it remains, and is acted uponnntil fed forward as follows: Each revolution of shaft D and screw D* earries worm-wh eel I2 forward one cog, and one .complete revolution of wheel I", shaft l, and

screws I carries -wormwheels l, shafts K, and cams K2 forward one eoo. As the rains revolve, they lift cam-rods L L and platens B C', thereby releasing the felt and allowing it to be fed forwardv The felt is carried through the vat and past the squeezing-roller T by means' of pawl o, which is operated by lever l?, this lever being attached to cam-rod L, so that the rising and falling movements of said rod will actuate the pawl, as before described. It will be observed that this feeding takes .place at' the same time that the platens are unless it is necessary, as their funci ion is dif ferent from and independent ol` the box, and they are only placed within it io econoniizeA Itis well known that in the old process of felting by hand the operator used to roll the bat ina suitable 'sheet and knit the fibers by a lapid vibratory motion imparted by his hands. During the operation it was his custom to unroll the bat, immerse it in hot Water, or a hot solution, turn the bat .a quarter Aof the way around relatively to the sheet, and complete the felting by means of a vibration at about 1.111 a felting-lnaehine, the double steam.. box Q Q', either with or without the compressing-rollers R R, in combination with the {i1-st felting-table, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The druln N, squeezing-rollerT', and vat M, in combination with the two felters B B',

G C', these parts bei-115,)` arranged for joint operation, substantially as described.

3. The cams K, cani-rods L L', and operating devices, in combination with platens B C, drum N, squeezing-roller T, and connecting devices, substantially as set forth.

CALVIN P. L ADD.

XVitnesses: a

TAL XV. CASH, HORACE A. MILLER. 

